LONG BEACH STATE | VOL. LXX, ISSUE 5 | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018
D 49
er
making a
POINT Long Beach Fire Department hosts a disaster preparedness demonstration.
Page 5
2 NEWS
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INSIDE
THE
NINER Campus takes part in voting registration competition page 3 Local artists celebrate fourth annual Zine Fest page 8
Daily 49er ON THE COVER
Members of the Long Beach Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue team, Paul Kopfstein and Ryan Sweeney, make their ascension up the Walter Pyramid as a part of a demonstration at the READY Long Beach event on Saturday. Cover photo by Paula Kiley
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Graphic by Emma DiMaggio Information for this graphic was obtained using “Police Calls For Service� provided by the Long Beach State University Police Department. Calls for service are documented using the initial reason for sending an officer out into the field, and do not imply that civilians were charged for the listed crimes. The most popular calls for service include reports of suspicious persons, miscellaneous calls and lost vehicles.
Grant Hermanns
Jassareth Alanis-Ponce Paula Kiley Gary Metzker Barbara Kingsley-Wilson
Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in this issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinions of the Daily 49er are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Daily 49er. Letters Policy: All letters and email must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Daily 49er reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.
NEWS 3
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“
I don’t care how you vote, I just want you to vote.”
President Jane Close Conoley
PAULA KILEY | Daily 49er
California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, left, introduces Long Beach State to a new competition to increase voter turnout among university students.
Battle of the Ballots
COMPETITION
Long Beach State comes together with CA State Secretary Alex Padilla and pledges to make voter registration a priority on campus. By Mark Lindahl Staff Writer
Only 18 percent of American college students voted in the 2014 midterm election, according to statistics compiled by Institute for Democracy & Higher Education. To bolster voter turnout, California Secretary of State, Alex Padilla partnered with Long Beach State and other campuses Friday to prioritize voter education and registration on campuses through a competition. All Cal State Universities, Universities of California, state community colleges and private institutions in the state were invited to join the cause, known as the “Ballot Bowl.” The competition will be divided into three categories: the largest number of students registered, the largest percentage of its student body regis-
tered and the most creative approach to registering students. The contest will formally begin on Aug. 20 and end Oct. 20. The winners will be announced Oct. 30, shortly before the California general election day on Nov. 6. The election will determine the holders of multiple statewide and county-specific offices, such as state governor and state Senate and Assembly representatives. Numerous ballot initiatives will also be voted on. The prizes, which were not disclosed, are tentatively scheduled to be given out on Nov. 14. “The goals for the challenge are to increase student voter registration and to create meaningful experiences that will continue to foster an interest in the election process,” reads a statement on Padilla’s website. According to Padilla, the desire
among students to spread voter education brings great potential for increased registration, but reaching all the students on campus still comes with its challenges. “For people who have never done it before or maybe come from families where there hasn’t been a lot of voting, it can be pretty intimidating or overwhelming,” Padilla said. “But if you have someone walking you through what it takes, that’s usually empowering.” Associated Students Inc. President Genesis Jara agreed that voting can be empowering for students.. “We’re striving to register as many students to vote so that in turn, they can go and educate their peers on the importance of voting and that as a whole our university will be civically engaged,” Jara said. To spread awareness and educate students on issues being voted on, ASI will
work with President Jane Close Conoley and faculty to get the word out on campus. LBSU will strategize to remove barriers that are stopping students from registering by having early mail-in days and an expanded time-frame to vote, along with implementing increased tabling on campus and having faculty do teach-ins. “[We need] more representation for our generation,” said freshmen computer science major David Eaton. “Some of the older people in Congress may not necessarily understand some of the issues that we’re facing, so people from our generation are going to understand [that].” Conoley said the Ballot Bowl will give students a notion of how voting really affects them, their family and community. “I don’t care how you vote, I just want you to vote,” Conoley said.
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NEWS 5
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EXHIBITION
Rising to the challenge of emergency safety READY Long Beach event aims to prepare the Long Beach community for any disaster.
Ryan Sweeney, part of the Urban Search and rescue team for the Long Beach Fire Department, doing a deminstration on the Walter Pyramid, Sep. 15. PAULA KILEY Daily 49er
By Paula Kiley
Multimedia Assistant paulakileyy
L
ong Beach commuters may have witnessed an unusual sight while driving down Atherton Street Saturday when members of the Long Beach Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue Team rappelled down from the top of Walter Pyramid. The arduous climb was one of many demonstrations at this year’s READY Long Beach, an annual community outreach event organized by the LBFD Community Emergency Response Team. “[READY Long Beach] is really about preparing the community,” said CERT Program Manager Jake Heflin. “It’s about taking a proactive approach to preparedness and we understand that if we take these steps now, [...] individuals that are prepared are going to fair much better than those that are not.” Several presentations were sprinkled throughout the day, such as a fire safety demonstration and an automobile rescue display. One of the biggest demonstrations of the day was the rappelling demonstration down Walter Pyramid. The descent was executed by LBFD Urban Search and Rescue Team members, Paul Kopf-
stein and Ryan Sweeney. “It was beautiful. The weather provided really good visibility today, so [the view] was perfectly crystal clear,” Kopfstein said. Attendees were treated to a variety of tables and booths filled with disaster and emergency readiness information and freebies set up by organizations such as the City of Long Beach Disaster Preparedness Bureau and the American Red Cross. Reggie Harrison, director of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications, urged Long Beach residents
to register their phones for ALERT Long Beach, a free emergency notification system designed to keep Long Beach residents informed of major emergencies or disasters. “The reality is, police and fire [departments] aren’t going to be able to get to everyone in the immediate aftermath of a disaster so it’s real important for residents to be prepared,” Harrison said. The Long Beach Disaster Preparedness Bureau booth also provided attendees with disaster kit checklists to get families started in their journey toward disaster preparedness. Harrison
suggested that those who could not access the checklist by attending READY Long Beach visit the Disaster Preparedness Bureau website. Another resource available to Long Beach residents is Map Your Neighborhood, an emergency preparedness program aimed at informing residents of the risks and resources within their community. The program would identify community members who may need additional assistance due to a disability. In addition, members with particular skills who may be helpful in the event of an emergency can distinguish themselves in their neighborhood as a resource to their community. READY Long Beach allowed disaster readiness programs to promote resources available to community members. The American Red Cross advertised “Sound the Alarm,” a fire alarm installation event that will take place Sept. 29. According to American Red Cross Disaster Program Specialist Chris Campbell-Jay, the American Red Cross will be installing free smoke alarms in the Long Beach area from Pacific Coast Highway to Seventh Street and Cherry Avenue to Redondo Avenue. Long Beach residents can sign up for a smoke alarm installation online at the American Red Cross website.
For more information on how to become a CERT member, email CERT@longbeach.gov or call the CERT Hotline at (562) 570-2525.
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ARTS & LIFE 7
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MUSICAL
Broadway hits LBSU at this semester’s Beach Café The voices of the school’s most talented performers filled Gerald R. Daniel Recital Hall. By Paula Kiley
Multimedia Assistant paulakileyy
The stage at Gerald R. Daniel Recital Hall became the set for a French revolution, the mystical Land of Oz and an angsty teen drama when the Bob Cole School of Music held its biannual Beach Café this weekend. In contrast to previous years, this semester’s Beach Café took on a Broadway spin, featuring beloved music from Broadway hall-offamers including “Les Miserables,” “Wicked” and “Dear Evan Hansen.” “This semester’s show is special because all
of the repertoires came from the musical theater tradition,” Jonathan Talberg, director of choral, vocal and opera studies. Talberg added that because of the musical theater focus, they invited Joanne Gordon, former chair of LBSU theater arts to direct the show. According to Gordon, student performers attended four-hour rehearsals over the span of three weeks, working to perfect every aspect of the production. “I love these students intensely,” Gordon said. “They’re passionate and they’re talented and they work incredibly hard.” The show was filled with both high-energy and emotional numbers from different musicals, seamlessly melting into the next.
PAULA KILEY | Daily 49er
Fourth year opera performance major Thomas Murphy O’Hara leads the chorus as Jean Valjean in the biggest number of the night, “One Day More” from “Les Miserables.” The biggest act from the program was “One Day More” from “Les Miserables.” The number started with several solos sung by the main ensemble before combining with the university and chamber choirs for a grand final chorus. Senior opera performance major Thomas Murphy O’Hara led the chorus of voices in
the glorious anthem, playing the role of Jean Valjean. “I grew up loving and performing in musical theater, so this show has felt like revisiting my roots in a lot of ways,” O’Hara said. “This show being more of a revue and less of a talent show has given the cast a really cool opportunity to work as a family.”
8 ARTS & LIFE
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Hand screen-printed Long Beach Zine Fest totes sit on the counter that doubles as a merchandise and information booth. JORGE VILLA | Daily 49er
LOCAL ART
An excite-zine weekend at the Expo Arts Center Artists explore vulnerability and autobiography through art booklets at Long Beach Zine Fest. By Emma DiMaggio
Assistant News Editor ekdimaggio
EMMA DIMAGGIO | Daily 49er
Students of the Long Beach State graphic design program sells prints, zines and pins to raise money for their senior show.
Multi-colored risograph illustrations passed through hundreds of hands Saturday as artists and zine lovers perused the fourth annual Long Beach Zine Fest. For literary lovers, the Expo Arts Center in Long Beach became a one-stop shop for zine-related collection, culture and exhibition. “[The energy here] is supportive. It’s a great venue for artists to show their work and to swap,” Tabia Salimu, 54, contributing artist at Skid Row Zine said. “It’s not just about making money and the dollars, it’s a whole culture.” Over 120 different venders showcased their work at the event, bringing stacks of “zines,” independently-published art booklets including illustration, comics, poetry and photography. “Zines are essentially information from a very local perspective,” said Long Beach Zine Fest organizer Daniel Garcia. “Zine fests are important for the community because it allows for the distribution of that local information.” Mark Golez, 27, exhibitor and storyboard artist at Cartoon Network, started creating zines a year ago as a way of fostering a personal creative outlet. He and fellow exhibitors have been touring zine fests from Portland to
San Francisco, with Long Beach as their last stop on the tour. “[Long Beach] Zine Fest has a lot of stories about what that person went through, whether that be depression, anxiety or some social issues like racism, all these different interesting topics that people are very vulnerable to share with others through this medium,” Golez said. “That takes a lot of courage.” Members of the Long Beach State graphic design program immersed in the culture over the weekend. Their table was covered in prints, stickers, buttons and zines, all on sale to fundraise for their senior show. Many of the zines on its table were created in experimental type classes, some of which were repurposed and reworked for the event. “We’re on Instagram so much. That’s our artist community digitally,” Ashlee Oreuano, graphic design major, said. “It’s nice to be in a place where it’s like Instagram in real life, where you can say ‘hi’ to everyone.” Though the marketplace took up most of the venue space, separate rooms included workshops and panels. Workshops took place throughout the day, and included topics as general as “How to Fold a Zine” to more indepth topics like “Healing Thru Zines.” “We have a lot of programming compared to some of the other major zine fests,” Garcia said. As for the future of zine fests in Long Beach and the future of independent zine publishers, Salimu said, “The future is folded.”
ARTS N LIFE 9
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FILM
GRANT HERMANNS | Daily 49er
Courtesy of LionsGate
The Oscar hit, “La La Land,” was filmed throughout the Los Angeles area as well as in the downtown area of Long Beach.
Behind the scenes of Long Beach’s movie cameos The city has been the shooting location for many films and shows over the years that may have gone unnoticed. By Grant Hermanns
General Assignment Editor granttheftautho
The beauty of Hollywood is that filmmakers can make nearly any city morph into the one a story is set in. While many coastal scenes look as though they’re filmed somewhere on the east coast, many were filmed right here in Long Beach. The aquatic capital of America has been featured in many films and TV shows over the years, some good and some bad, and now it is home to AMC’s “Lodge 49.” Let’s take a look at some other films and TV shows filmed in Long Beach, as well as the locations they were filmed in. American Pie “American Pie” follows a group of best friends who, aside from the womanizer in the group, seek to lose their virginity before their graduation. This teen sex comedy might have taken place in West Michigan, but much of it was actually filmed around Long Beach including Millikan High School, Long Beach Polytechnic High School and a house in the Los Cerritos area. The film was a modest critical hit but a major box office success, spawning three sequels and four spinoffs. American Sniper While the majority of the war drama was filmed around Los Angeles and Santa Clarita, the pier and bar scenes with stars Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller were actually shot in neighboring city, Seal Beach on the pier and at O’Malley’s on Main. “American Sniper” is a biopic surrounding the life of military marksman Chris Kyle who, while celebrated by the country for his service and 255 kills in four tours overseas, suffered a psychological toll that affected his family life. The film was a box office smash, grossing over half-a-billion dollars and earning generally positive reviews amidst controversy while garnering six Oscar nominations, winning one for Best Sound Editing. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy “You stay classy, San Diego.” Though Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy was reporting the
news for 1974 San Diego, he and his news team’s hijinks were actually mostly filmed around Los Angeles and Long Beach, namely outside of the International Tower building off of Ocean Boulevard and the Shoreline Aquatic Park next to the Aquarium of the Pacific, as well as the Queensway Bridge. “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” followed the titular character as he and his news team clashed with the new female co-anchor in a fictional San Diego TV news station. Grossing just under $100 million at the box office and receiving generally positive reviews, the film at the time was considered a modest hit, but in the years since, has accumulated such a large cult following from audiences and critics alike and is considered one of the best comedies of both Ferrell’s career and the 2000s. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off “Oh yeahhhhhhh.” Before Ferris was shaking it up on a Von Steuben Day Parade float and driving around town in a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder, he was faking a cold at his house which, while the inside was filmed elsewhere, the exterior shots of his home were filmed at a luxurious place located in the Los Cerritos area not but two blocks from the house featured in “American Pie.” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” centered around the titular high school senior (Matthew Broderick) who fakes being sick in order to enjoy a day off in Chicago with his chronically-anxious best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) and girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara). Written and directed by ‘80s mastermind John Hughes, “Ferris” was one of the highest-grossing films of 1986 and is considered one of the greatest high school movies of all time, as well as the main launch to stardom for Broderick. Gone in 60 Seconds It’s both one of the more oft-forgotten and underrated remakes in Hollywood, as well as films in Nicolas Cage’s career, but “Gone in 60 Seconds” was a legitimately thrilling and fast-paced joy ride that is not only set in Long Beach and Los Angeles, but actually filmed here as well, including classic bar Joe Jost’s off of Anaheim Street and a bombastic stunt on the Vincent Thomas Bridge. “Gone in 60 Seconds” follows a former car thief (Cage) who must get back into the game when his younger brother (Giovanni Ribisi) gets involved with the new head of organized crime (Christopher
Eccleston) in Long Beach and must deliver 50 stolen, expensive cars in 72 hours or his brother will be killed. Though the film was not a critical success, it was a commercial hit and has garnered a very positive reception from audiences. La La Land It’s been considered one of the greatest musicals of this decade, and while much of the story is set around the city of Los Angeles, some of it was filmed right here in Long Beach, including The Blind Donkey off of Linden Avenue in the downtown area and the Rose Tower apartments off of Third Street. “La La Land” reunited Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as a jazz pianist and an aspiring actress who meet and fall in love in LA as they work toward achieving their dreams. The film was a major box office hit and received largely positive reviews from critics and audiences, garnering 13 Oscar nominations and winning six of them. Lodge 49 Very rarely does the city actually get portrayed on screen as itself, but “Lodge 49” has opted to change that by including outdoor scenes filmed nearly exclusively around LB, including a residence off of 46th Street, Bluff Park and Bixby Village Golf Course. “Lodge 49” centers on a former surfer injured by a snake bite struggling in Long Beach who joins a fraternal lodge that holds surreal mysteries. The Wyatt Russell-led dramedy has received mediocre ratings but has received rave reviews from critics and audiences for its surreal,comedic tone and performances from its cast. Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny As with many other movies set in Hollywood, “Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny” ventured to the city to film some key scenes for the movie, including using Alex’s Bar as the location of the final battle between Jables (Jack Black), Kage (Kyle Gass) and the Devil (Dave Grohl), as well as downtown being used in a car chase between the duo and the police. “Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny” tells the fictional story of the real band’s origins in which two aspiring rockers in the ‘90s set out on a quest to find a pick belonging to Satan to become rock gods. The film was a box office bomb and only received mixed reviews from critics, but it has become a cult classic among fans of the band and beyond, with Black announcing a potential sequel this year.
10 OPINIONS
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TRANSPORTATION
My ride or die: Uber With various ways of getting around, Uber is the best option for students on the go. RYAN GUITARE | Daily 49er
Why waste time looking for parking when you can just get dropped off at any convenient location on-campus near your classes using Uber.
By Jelina Cortero
Assistant Opinions Editor
W
hen you don’t have your own car, use someone else’s — Uber has been my saving grace for getting to and from campus in a timely manner. Parking passes at Long Beach State are $140 per semester and $80 in the summer, according to the Parking and Transportation Services. The cost of the pass combined with the time you’ll spend circling the lot for a space, just isn’t worth it. When the transportation network company started up in 2009, I just used it to get my drunken friends and I home from bars and nightclubs. It easily became my first choice when needing a driver quickly. Through my experience, the average wait time for an Uber is no more than five minutes, so I thought, if Uber is so punctual, it just might get me to class on time. When I’m done getting ready for school, I order an Uber 30 minutes
before my class starts. The ride to campus is about 12 minutes from my apartment with an average cost of $7 per ride. With slight traffic, I usually arrive 10 minutes before my class begins. After almost a month of using Uber, the service has never made me late. Along with skipping the hefty parking pass fee, in a personal sacrifice, I also gave up getting a hot Venti caramel macchiato every day in order to pay for my Uber rides. Yes, there are other options that may be cheaper. Both Uber and Lyft offer ride sharing options where students can carpool with others in one trip which makes it that much cheaper. One shared Lyft trip can cost as little as $3 for someone who lives 15 minutes from campus. However, not everyone is comfortable sitting in a car with other riders. Most, if not all campuses, offer students free bus passes to get around the city so using the Long Beach Transit buses are the more obvious choice when it comes to pinching pennies. The problem with this option is the schedule. Buses
aren’t always reliable; some are late to the stops and sometimes are too full to hold more passengers. Even if you’ve been waiting at a stop for 20 minutes, a seat on the bus is never guaranteed. Some people choose a more active mode of transportation by riding their bikes or skateboards to campus. As awesome as that may be, getting sweaty is not exactly at the top of my list when I think about how I want to arrive on campus. Uber gets you from point A to B, quickly and without a scratch. You may even strike up some good conversation with the driver. People may be hesitant to have a stranger drive them around, but I’ve never met an Uber driver I didn’t like and with background checks for any record within the past seven years, you have a greater sense of security. With stories about Uber drivers kidnapping or even assaulting their riders, passengers have a tough time trusting their drivers and are wary of their safety. To combat this, Uber added the ability to share the details
of your trip with friends, an emergency 911 button within the app and a rerun of background checks on drivers, according to a CNN Tech article published in June. So not only is Uber a safe bet and more convenient, it is also not as expensive as most people might think. The Uber app is simple to use and all of the information you need is included, such as navigation and payment methods. If you ride multiple times, Uber offers up to 10 rides at a discounted price. If you want to reduce your amount of trips, because the cost can add up, stay on campus until you’re done with classes or until a friend you can carpool with gets out of class. Even though I know that with just the tip of my fingers I can head back home any time I want, carpooling motivates me to actually stay on campus. Staying on campus for those two or three more hours is more productive because that way I am able to get a lot of homework done while waiting for my ride. So happy Uber-ing, and maybe we’ll share a ride one day.
SPORTS 11
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PROFILE
People say I’m good but ... that doesn’t phase me, I want to be better.”
“
Williams exceeds expectations
Kashauna Williams
The freshmen outside hitter proves herself an a valuable asset to the team for years to come. By Samantha Diaz Managing Editor samanthadiaz98
K
ashauna Williams’ road to becoming a starting freshman on a Division 1 volleyball team has not been an easy one. It had many stops: through Northridge, Lancaster and Nebraska, before reaching Long Beach. It involved hour-long Uber commutes and rides from family members, spending nights at family member’s houses to get to school and practice. And her journey doesn’t end at Long Beach State, not even close. Freshman outside hitter Kashauna Williams joined the Long Beach State women’s volleyball team as one of six new incoming freshmen. She immediately made a name for herself, setting a career high during her first game against Portland State with 15 kills. This record has since been broken in her career performance against UCLA, with 16 kills. She fits right in with the team, playing on par with seasoned veterans and making a name for herself on a young roster. Williams has secured a spot in the starting lineup as an offensive powerhouse, averaging double digit kills in six of the team’s last games. Unlike most of her teammates however, Williams did not grow up playing the game, or even thinking about it until she was in high school when her friends convinced her to try out on a whim. “Where I was from … I didn’t even think about going to college,” Williams said. “I was just going to school. I didn’t even think I was going to play a sport; schools just started recruiting me.” She is the first in her family to attend a four-year university, and as the middle
JOSEPH KLING | Daily 49er
Freshman outside hitter Kashauna Williams attempts a block against No. 16 UCLA. She is second on the team in kills with 2.75 per set, behind junior outside hitter Hailey Harward.
child out of six, she sets an example for her younger siblings. Her 13-year-old sister, Kamelia Brown, has been playing volleyball for four years and hopes to follow in her older sister’s footsteps. Brown talks about her sister with admiration in her voice, reminiscing about their traditional pre-practice cup of noodles and frequent phone calls where she would confide all of her frustrations with volleyball, and learned from her sister’s wisdom. “She’s the reason why I know how to play volleyball, she taught me how to set and bump,” Brown said. “I learned how to hit because I have a video of her from Long
Beach hitting in slow motion and I just watch it all the time.” But the admiration doesn’t stop within the family. Everyone in the program gives her high regard, remarking on the raw talent Williams possesses. This talent is something head coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer saw in her from a young age, when she recruited Williams to play club volleyball for Mizuno Long Beach, and again to join the Long Beach State team. “What I saw in Kashauna was just this amazing athlete who could attack and her movement was dynamic, just very raw,” McKienzie-Fuerbringer said.
Williams however, has her sights set on much higher goals after getting a taste of professional play. After completing her four years at Long Beach, Williams is determined to compete in the Olympics one day, an idea that stemmed from multiple recommendations from her coaches, her family is now in full support of the idea as well. “I look at her and just the way she is on the court and I could see that she’s going somewhere,” said Williams’ mother, Karlene Barrett. “She’s been athletic ever since she was a little girl. Whether she was running or playing basketball or volleyball, she’s always dominating at it. She’s worked very hard to get where she is. I’m really proud.” For now, Williams watches her teammates and picks what she can learn from them in order to improve her own game: Hailey Harward’s topspin serve, Tyler Spriggs’ effective communication on-court. She watches, knowing she’s capable of more. “I’m good now but I want to be even better,” Williams said. “People say I’m good but … that doesn’t phase me, I want to be better. I plan on being better every day, so that’s my goal, to just get better, every minute, every second.” Her determination can be seen in her fiery personality which is exhibited on the court, when she’s holding in laughter during a match one second and almost kicking the ball out of frustration the next. Williams’ “do better” attitude has earned her praise among teammates, as they notice the difference that playing with a player like Williams makes. Williams will continue improving everyday, down this road to excellence and maybe one day, an Olympic gold medal.
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